Martin Luther said that peace
is not merely a distant goal we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that
goal. Throughout the world, nations and people from all walks of life seek
peace and security. Ending wars is the path to progress and fulfillment of
higher aspirations for unity and the advancement of humanity towards more universal
horizons. Many are dedicated to the potential realization of such future. To
the same degree, all are conscious that man is man in terms of frailty and
rationalizations. History is full of lessons and examples of how few may
distort the facts to make others see evil as good and good as evil; oftentimes
resorting to violence and wars on the pretext of self-defense.

If we were to consider the
Palestinian case from the viewpoint of a people who for more than half a
century have faced transgressions on the hands of those who claim they are
peacemakers, it is clear to see a case of such distortions. We witness how
invaders who came from far to rival Palestinians on their own land and to
uproot them from where they lived for thousands of years cannot make peace
through force, yet blindly persist in a vicious cycle of denial and violence. Should
a whole people go on living under occupation until their occupier is satisfied
with the conditions for surrender! Israel has to choose between peace and
occupation. The occupiers and the occupied are not two equal parties to the
conflict. After decades of negotiations, the lack of peaceful solutions is
harming not only Palestinians but also Jews everywhere. Peace is important not
only to Israelis and Palestinians but to the region and the world.

The question of who is
responsible for the bloodshed of Israelis and Palestinians comes to the mind of
sensible people seeking peace on both sides. Who is responsible for a tragedy
lasting more than sixty years of eroding the humanity of others? Has the
Israeli side not yet realized that Palestinians will never stop the legitimate
struggle for their inalienable rights! Have they not yet recognized that
Israelis will never live in peace and security as long as Palestinians continue
to resist occupation and fight for self-determination!

Reason says that violence
will only breed counter-violence. Hence, why speak of peace and justice but
support repression and occupation, why preach freedom, democracy and human
rights but deprive Palestinians of their self-determination, thereby subjecting
both Israelis and Palestinians to an endless action-reaction cycle of mutual
destruction. Could the Israeli leadership, despite centuries of eloquent,
persuasive, and visionary examples in Jewish history, be delusional about the
consequences of denying Palestinians statehood which is self-evident! If all of
those concerned in the international community are certain of the tragic
consequences for generations to come, what are Israeli leaders to conclude, and
how far will they go to elude themselves and others? There must be some secret
behind this endless perplexity facing both Israeli and Palestinian civilians
who are eager for peace and have been driven instead to dead-ends of conflicts,
bloodshed, and regrets.

The international community
wants both sides to have a better future, but could the Israeli leadership ever
respect the resolutions of the United Nations and Security Council as long as
it can rely on United States veto power which so far has encouraged Israel to
ignore its responsibility and trample on international law? How many more Palestinians need to be
made homeless before the wolf is no longer entrusted with the hen house? Is
America in favor of segregation and Jewish-only roads and settlements when such
a practice is illegal in the United States? Palestinians do not want the international
community to fund the occupation but to end it.

The future of Israelis and
Palestinians is determined in the present. Israel can reach a fair settlement
of peaceful coexistence with Palestinians and its Arab neighbors in good faith
by an act of bona fide will for genuine peace and justice. However, the
misguided interference of veto power, force, and arrogance has so far stifled
all hopes. Israel may want peace, but the condition for this seemingly
unattainable goal is because the occupying power insists to be both the judge
and jury.

This raises other unanswered
questions which the international community must address. What is the reason
behind the blind bias of United States toward Israel in a way that jeopardizes
its own national interest in the Arab region and compromises Israelís best
interests in the long term? Is it the result of the influence of the Zionist
lobby? To some extent it maybe so, but there might be other significant factors
in the terms of this complex equation, which have to be scrutinized and
recognized by both Palestinians and Israelis if they really want to stop the
bloodshed between them and end the deadlock to reach a final peace agreement.

Both parties must come to
know that if peace were to be achieved, the war and destruction machine which
has depleted their resources would stop. Aims of economic integration among all
the races and religions in this region, which is the cradle of civilizations,
would be slowly but surely realized. Be it agricultural and industrial development,
scientific and technological progress, or sharing the diversely rich cultural
and historical heritage. All can contribute to creating the desired bright
future that will lead by example for generations to come; a shining example of
tolerance and understanding to illuminate not only the Middle East, but the
rest of the world.

There are those who are
certainly interested in sustaining a state of lasting conflict and tension. For
example, by supporting illegal settlers with funds, weapons, and other
underhanded means to instigate divisions and incite hatred which impede all steps
toward peace. Those who spread divisions feel at ease while both Israelis and
Palestinians are fighting each other. Continuous fighting and killing means
continuous demand for weapons and the uncontrollable requirement for supplying
the destruction machine. Zionism went astray when it justified seizing
Palestinian land by force and legitimized discrimination and racism as a means
to achieving its aims.

In conclusion, it is evident
throughout ancient and contemporary history that force cannot be used to achieve
peace. For decades, through violence and counter violence, Zionism has targeted
Palestinians in the name of religion, trampling on international law in the
name of the Jewish people, occupying land by force in the name of Israelís
security. Not every Jew, not every Israeli, is a Zionist. It is high time for
Jews everywhere in general and for Israelis in specific to condemn the grave
violations of international humanitarian andhuman
rights lawcommitted in their name. Ultimately, when
all else fails, it will become clearer to Israelis, Zionists or not, that their
freedom depends on Palestinians freedom. Making peace with Palestinians is the
only way for Israelis to have peace.

Otherwise, occupation can
only continue by the use of force again and again. The vicious cycle of
conflict will only engender further conflict. Invaders cannot be peacemakers at
the same time. How can there be peace as long as Israel is an occupying force!
Occupation approached objectively, without denying or justifying, must end.
Beginning with this fact without justifications, without rationalizations,
should be unquestionable. Defensive attitudes build walls of separation. If
Israel prefers to remain in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, there will
continue to be a resistance to occupation; and where there is resistance there
can be no peace, neither for the occupier nor for the occupied.